Kids take such great pleasure in expressing their feelings toward each other, it's no wonder Valentine's Day is a huge event in schools. Here are some tips from the experts at Hallmark on preparing your child for the big day:

Ask the teacher for a class list. Be sure everyone gets a card.

Prepare treats everyone can enjoy. Avoid nuts or other ingredients that may cause allergic reactions.

Let the kids choose. There are different cards available to suit all kids' interests. The big draws this year include Ratatouille, Spiderman, Barbie as The Island Princess, Pirates of the Caribbean, High School Musical and Hot Wheels.

Get them writing. Encourage the kids to write their own messages, such as "Let's have a play date."

Let them get creative. If they're too young to write, stickers help them personalize the messages.

Remember the teacher. It's a small way to show appreciation for your child's next-favourite role model.

One in five elementary and high school kids in Canada is involved in bullying at any given time during the school day – as victim, bully or observer. Experts in Canadian Living magazine suggest the following strategies to help reduce your child's chances of being bullied.

• Talk about bullying with your child. Making kids aware of what bullying is will help them know when they've been mistreated

• Teach your child to be assertive. Bullies often target kids who aren't likely to stand up to them or report the incidence. Practise saying "no" and "stop it" in a firm voice and teach them to display confidence through body language.

• If your child recounts an episode of being bullied, stay calm. Thank him or her for sharing the information. Tell your child that what you hear bothers you and then label it.

• Focus on solutions. Ask your child for input on what steps can be taken to make him feel safe, such as using another area of the playground.

• Talk to your child's teacher and principal. Don't assume they're aware of the situation.

Note: Bullying is not restricted to kids. In its October 2007 issue, leading consumer magazine Canadian Living devotes a special report to adult bullying.

By Kathryn Dorrell

Credit: www.newscanada.com